bubbly1973's IUI online diary

[bubbly1973]

i am doing this online diary in the hope that it will help anyone who is going through it or are about to go through it. Oneday it will be hidden away in the archives and will be found by someone who is desperatly seeking information or another womans experience and find this diary helpful..if i can help one person then i will be happy

please feel free to post on this thread, if you have any comments or you just want to give me support id be most grateful

so here we go firstly something about me and dh

we had iui done a few years ago, conceived but sadly ended in a miscarriage,
went for our 2nd go straight away and conceived and now we have a beautiful little boy who is going to be 3 in june.

My periods are very irregular, anything from 35 to 45 days. I have cysts on my ovaries so am not ovulating, i thought after having a baby this would correct itself, but unfortunately it hasnt

I am 31, i am a smoker, non vegetarian, weigh nearly 8stone
dh is 32, non smoker, non vegetarian, his sperms are not extremly high in numbers but sufficient enough

iui explained

right so will post this and begin my diary....

madigan, i know exactly what you mean about being too scared to test, sometimes ignorance is bliss

i never felt pg and also didnt buy any tests as i was going into the hospital for my pg test but i used to feel exactly like you did when we were on clomid and i was a few days late..

sooooo not long now hun, one more sleep and its the big day!!!

good luck again
fingers crossed
bubbly x

Bubbly

tested this morning and BFN. am so disappointed. Really hoped it would be my turn this month.

oh madigan (hugs)

im truly sorry, i thought yours would come out bfp, i am gutted for you and know how you are feeling this morning, if its any consolation in no time at all you will be putting all your thoughts and energy into the next treatment, but today nothing anyone says or does will make you feel happy, when you finish work, pick up a bottle of wine and a good dvd and pig out

im sorry it hasnt worked

hi madigan. I'm so sorry its not worked for you this time. Its a huge disappointment to get a bfn after the 2ww but as bubbly says you quickly start to focus on the next treatment (and trying naturally in your month break, the treatment can increase fertility a little bit)

I don't want to get your hopes up but can get a false bfn, have you got your af yet or any 'signs' of it coming?

Dizzy36, your question about the 3 month Clomid thing and about if it doesn't work in three months, your chances are decreased thereafter, I was told this. If Clomid is going to work for a patient it will work quickly, ie within the 3 cycles. A small percentage of women do get pregnant in months 4, 5, 6 but it is a small percentage. That is why Clomid is recommended for 3-6 months only and if it doesn't work, the patient can go onto another fertility drug.

thanks guys
dizzy - no signs of af yet, but am resigned to the BFN
Bubbly - I thought mine would come out BFP too, I really did!! I feel v disheartened, esp after nurse said on insem day that everything was in our favour.

Which month is this for you Madigan?

Also Madigan, did they tell you your follicle size and what is the dosage of Clomid you are taking?

Madigan - bugger am sorry to hear about the BFN

I think you should take Bubbly's advice, totally time for a bottle of wine, a DVD and a bit of "poor me" time before its time to dust yourself down to try again.

I really am sorry xx

thanks Bella - good to hear from you.

SKBF - this was my 1st go at IUI (after 2yrs ttc). Not on clomid for IUI (was 3 months before).On puregon for IUI. 2 follicles but can't now remember size I am afraid. But nurse said they were a good size for the IUI procedure.

will def take Bubbly up on her advice re wine - going out for dinner tonight, and looking forward to a glass or two after a fortnight's abstinence. but still feel a bit glum....

SKBF - I have never been on clomid. was told by drs that good candidates for iui and should work after 2 or 3 gos (which it obviously hasn't).

I have read that most people doing iui don't ovulate or partner has low count...clomid has been mentioned in the stuff I have read. I assumed all info would be relevant to people who don't have any physical problems. I don't know its all very confusing....I am worried about it not working after 3 goes...I'm thinking far too much, mainly that the only conceivable answer is that my eggs must be old and crap! The reason being I have conceived twice before so I know there shouldnt be any problem in implantation.

I will know more at follow up and I'm going to ask everything, even the questions that I thought were stupid and never had the nerve to ask before

madigan, hope you enjoy yourself tonight...will do you good to get it all out of your head for a bit....take care

Madigan, the Purefon (sp?) is perscribed if Clomid doesn't work so it looks as though you are in good hands. Sadly the IUI doesn't necessarily work in the first month so you may need to just keep trying. How many days post ovulation are you because I was told to test 16 days after ovulation so slightly more than 2 weeks. Also, are your DH's sperm being washed so that only the good sperm are introduced to you?

Dizzy36, make a list of all the questions you want to ask so that you leave with as much information as possible. I had a long list for my consultation and another long one for when I saw the doctor who gave me my results. He was happy to answer all my questions and to make sure that I understood his answers. Have you had an internal scan on Day 3 to look at your follicle size? Are you going privately for this treatment?

madigan, how are you today?

thinking of you

xx

Hi SKBF and Bubbly

AF arrived today ... so that's that.
feeling a bit down in the dumps today.
Am going to have a month's break now before next IUI, but I am concerned that I maybe reducing my chances of success for the next cycle? Should I be doing cycles back-to-back?

Yes - DH's sperm were washed - and nurses were happy with the count/other parameters. everything was in our favour, and I thought it was going to work!!!!

Madigan - sorry the old witch has reared her ugly head!!
Will the clinic offer you some advice as to whether its ok to wait a cycle or go straight into the next one?
Can I ask if you have thought about trying acupuncture? I have read that it does increase the chances when done in conjunction with IUI and IVF.
My acupuncturist treats loads of women when they are having their treatment.

Madigan, there is every chance that it will work and by taking Purefon and having the sperm washed AND having it introduced directly into your womb really increases your chances. It would be great if it worked in the first month but doesn't always. You need to persevere, we all do but it is a pain, stressful, expensive and takes alot of thought and planning and disappointment from month to month. Don't be disheartened, just keep going. Why take a month's break this month? How long will the clinic prescribe the Purefon to you? I know the facts about Clomid but not the others. Thinking of you.

bella
I did go to see the acupuncturist which you recommended! but he told me that since the main problem is DH's low sperm count, it is DH who needs tment, not me! and DH thinks it's a load of nonsense.... that said, I might go back to him next time I do IUI just to be on the safe side.
SKBF - having a break for a month really because I will be out of london on holiday during the crucial week, and so will be difficult to get to clinic. also fancy a break from hormones (have had 4 months on the trot now - 3 clomid, 1 puregon). also, the clinic said that I should have a month's break between each cycle, but to be honest I am not sure that is correct. I have asked a consultant to phone me, so I will ask him/her all the questions - hopefully this afternoon.
Thank you for your advice - which all makes perfect sense !! just have to keep going. what stage are you at?

madigan, im glad she arrived early this morning, because it means you arent holding onto that slight hope when you already had your bfn, theres nothing worse than af not arriving for another few days and still wishing deep down in your heart. now you can move on.

i personally think your doing the right thing in having a break, i really dont think it lessens your chances, my clinic wouldnt let us do another go back to back, and they have gotten me pg twice, so please dont worry about lessening your chances, i dont think that is the case.

who knows why my treatmetn didnt work the first two times, unfortunatly its something no one will ever know, i know they said u were the perfect candidate so it makes it that much harder for you to accept that it hasnt worked but hang on in there, dont dwell on this 1st go too much or will get disheartened before you even do your 2nd go.

Madigan, I have just typed a very long response about acupuncturists which I have just lost as I wanted to preview it and because my password was incorrect I lost the whole lot!! Don't have time to retype it but will do it later on this evening - I need to do some work! - but just want to say: don't give up hope! Want to ask as no exp of Purefon, how long will they prescribe it for? I am on day 18 of a 32-34 day cycle and am trying to forget about the whole thing at the moment. At least my OPK's and clomid are finished for this month so I feel I can now just relax.

Will type later and don't be disheartened.

fingers crossed for you skbf.
I injected puregon between days 5 and 11, I think.
bubbly - thanks for your advice. who knows, maybe we'll get lucky this month without IUI.

Madigan - hope you are holding out ok

Yes I forgot you went to see my acupuncturist, perhaps worth giving him a call and asking if he thinks there will be benefit going whilst doing your next IUI.

Will be sending positive vibes that you get some luck this month whilst waiting for your next attempt, it has been known

Hi Madigan. Did you manage to speak to your consultant on Friday afternoon and did you manage to ask the questions you had?
You mentioned you saw an acupuncturist and he suggested that your DH had a low sperm count, well he is not really qualified to suggest that. I saw an accupunturist as I would like to believe that alternative 'natural' medicine could help and possibly be better. She prescribed chinese herbs which I took and that month I was in so much pain one afternoon, one that I haven't experienced before or after taking these herbs, at a friend's house that I was doubled up and couldn't stand up. Didn't have any painkillers except my friend had one measly paracetamol which I took with a large glass of wine (it was after 6pm!) and it gradually subsided. When I next saw the acupunturist she flippantly suggested it was the tube clearing itself. She did not scan or prod me so an unqualified assumption. After that she took a holiday and I found it an effort to go to see her as it was out of the way. Looking back I feel, as this was last summer, I wasted time not getting a proper medical opinion using the latest medical equipment. Had I done this last summer my eggs would have been slightly younger and at 41.5 now I really shouldn't waste time. Having said that, you may conclude that it works for you. Those going for acupuncture and getting preg will then feel the acupuncure worked for them and they have no way of knowing if they would have got preg anyway. Do whatever you are comfortable with.

I really do think you really are in the best possible hands and all these clinics keep up to date with current breakthroughs/procedures as they all attend conferences and share their experiences and research and it can only be of benefit to them if they follow the best methods.

Also wanted to ask you if you did your own injections and if so how was that?!

hi skbf
am v sorry to hear about your bad experience with chinese herbalist - there are some quacks out there, and I agree that they can be quite dangerous.
I think I will leave the acupuncture for a bit.
spoke to consultant at fertility clinic today actually, and she was very helpful. she said that it often takes 2 or 3 goes with IUI.
I did do the injections myself - which I found fine. But I am not really squeamish. DH could not bear to watch, and said that he would never be able to inject himself (luckily he doesn't have to). really, it did not hurt at all.
how are you doing? what day are you on now?

Hi bella too - and thanks for positive vibes - need all the help I can get! XXX

Hi Madigan, now on Day 23 and it seems to be going really slowly despite me being busy.

I am pleased you spoke with your consultant and feel reassured. It is in their interest to provide the best care/techniques and therefore best possible result for the patient and the clinic. I am sure you are in good hands. Not only that, these clinics are regularly checked by local Health Authority and HEFA (?) and that is also reassuring. Maybe this month without IUI will be your month. How are your follicles without clomid/puregon on day 3?

I spoke to a girlfriend last week who succeeded in getting preg with both her children in first month of trying. She was mid 30's at the time and she read in a Dr Stanway book to do a shoulder stand after intercourse which she did and it worked. It may have worked had she not but I think it is unusual to succeed both times in first month don't you?